(As appeared in Inverse.com on February 23, 2016) – Paramount is currently in court, trying to stop the production of a fan-made crowdfunded Star Trek prequel film on the grounds it violates the studio’s ownership of the copyright. Launched in 2014, the film Prelude to Axanar covers the missions of the first Federation warship and takes place during the childhood of James T. Kirk but well away from him. The problem with all that is that it definitely shares a universe with every other Star Trek film and movie. The question becomes whether or not Star Trek is the universe or what happens within it.

Ponder that for a second.

The reason this issue has come to the fore is that most fans don’t give a damn what the answer to that question actually is, which is why, over the course of three different Kickstarter campaigns, the Axanar team has raised over one million dollars, and is still seeking some finishing funds.